Nayru’s Silent Realm and Lanayru Sand Sea walkthrough – Zelda: Skyward Sword HD guide

With the first of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD’s Sacred Flames in hand (in sword?), it’s time to head back to the Isle of Songs and then into Lanayru Desert. There, you’ll explore the Silent Realm and head into the Lanayru Sand Sea.

In this Skyward Sword HD Nayru’s Silent Realm and Lanayru Sand Sea walkthrough, we’ll guide you through the Silent Realm and the Sand Sea with tips on finding items, rupees, Goddess Cubes, and collectibles and completing every quest and side quest. We’ll walk you through finding the Lanayru Trial Gate where you’ll enter the Silent Realm to collect Light Fruit and Tears of Nayru in order to get the Clawshot. With that new tool, we’ll head into the Lanayru Caves to reach the Sand Sea, Skipper’s Retreat, Shipyard, and Pirate Stronghold.

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Table of contents

• Isle of Songs
• Lanayru Desert
• Nayru’s Silent Realm
• West Desert
• Lanayru Caves
• Lanayru Sand Sea
• Skipper’s Retreat
• Ancient Sea Chart
• Shipyard
• Shipyard Construction Bay
• Pirate Stronghold
• Find the Sandship

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Isle of Songs

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Head back to the Isle of Songs inside the Thunderhead. Inside the tower, Skyward Strike the altar (again) to learn Nayru’s Wisdom.

You’ll get pointed toward Lanayru Desert for your next trial.

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Lanayru Desert

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Fly down to Lanayru Desert and drop in at the North Desert bird statue. Face northeast, and look for some butterflies marking the Trial Gate.

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Nayru’s Silent Realm

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Your task in Nayru’s Silent Realm is the same as it was in Farore’s Silent Realm back in Faron Woods.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Collect all 15 Tears of Nayru, and you’ll receive the Clawshots.

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West Desert

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Use your new Clawshots to head to the southwest of Lanayru Desert near the West Desert bird statue.

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When you get there, Clawshot up to the ledge, and continue along the boulders. Clawshots up to the tunnel above you.

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Lanayru Caves

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Head forward, and play the Goddess’s Harp in the center of the ring of Bomb Flowers to find a Gossip Stone.

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Bomb everything and open the nearby chest to find some treasures like rupees and a Monster Horn.

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Continue forward and speak with Golo to get a Small Key. Clawshots up, and use the key on the door to the west.

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Lanayru Sand Sea

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Clawshot your way across the pillars and visit the Ancient Harbor bird statue to the west.

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Step onto the pier and hit the Timeshift Stone in the boat. Speak to the robot there, LD-301N Skipper.

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Skipper’s Retreat

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Navigate the boat to the southwest, and dock at the Skipper’s Retreat. Follow the dock and save at the Skipper’s Retreat bird statue.

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Turn right (east) and use the pillars and Clawshots targets to climb up and to the north.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Watch for a boulder to bomb on your right. Open that tunnel, deal with the Yellow ChuChus inside, and continue west.

Image: Nintendo via Polygon

Keep Clawshotting your way up to the bridge, and take on the Moblin there. On the other side, take out the Quadro Baba, and open the chest for a red rupee.

Turn right (north), and Clawshots to the next pillar. To the left, use your Whip to pull the Peahat out of the ground. Clawshot it and the target to the north to reach the next pillar.

Face northeast, and fly the Beetle toward the next Clawshot target. Use the Beetle to cut down the Deku Baba that pops out. Clawshot to the next two targets.

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Deal with the Furnixes, and then face back the way you came. Clawshot over, and open the chest for another Monster Horn.

Keep using targets and Peahats as you continue south to the Skipper’s Retreat.

Ancient Sea Chart

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Inside the Skipper’s Retreat, use the Gust Bellows to clear out the sand. You’ll find a few Amber Relics and some rupees scattered around. Open the chest to find the Ancient Sea Chart.

Before you slide back down to the ship, climb onto the roof of the Retreat. There are several Sand Cicadas on the pillar at the very top.

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You could just use the zip lines starting on the west side of the Retreat to slide back down to the boat. Instead, though, sprint and jump off of the dock on the south side. Skydive your way down to the pillar to the southwest. Open the chest there for a silver rupee.

Continue down and speak with the Skipper.

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Shipyard

Head to the west. Use the boat’s cannon to destroy any explosive barrels or enemies that get in your way. Dock at the Shipyard and save at the Shipyard bird statue.

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Turn right and deal with the pair of Lizalfos. Continue up the stairs to the mine cart depot. Speak with Gortram there, and read the safety instructions on the wall.

Hop into the cart and ride it to the end of the track. Get out and continue south.

Clear the Arachas out of the next building, and take the first right to another mine cart depot.

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You’ll have to make some choices on this ride — leaning left and right to direct the cart onto other paths, so keep an eye on your map.

At the other end, you’ll land next to a bird statue. Save, and head south.

Shipyard Construction Bay

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Drop into the sand pit. Use the Gust Bellows to clear some sand from the middle until you find a Moldarch. The fight goes exactly the same as last time — hit the eyes in its claws, and then jab it in its central eye a few times.

When the door opens, head through it to the east and return to the Skipper.

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Pirate Stronghold

Your next destination is the Pirate Stronghold to the north. Dock there, and save at the Pirate Stronghold bird statue.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Head right, and you’ll find a door in the back right corner to head inside.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Cross the first room to the door in the northwest corner. Follow the hall north and deal the enemies as you go.

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At the north end, pick up the Timeshift Orb.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Carry it along the eastern hallway heading south. Watch for a chest with a silver rupee.

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When you reach the large sandy room, head to the northwest corner.

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Follow the pillars that pop up as you move with the Timeshift Orb. They’ll lead you through the room and out.

When you reach the gate in the northeast, set the Timeshift Orb down in front of it.

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Loop around, and pull the switch on the wall to retrieve your Orb. Continue south.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

In the next sand-filled room, follow the right (west) wall. Get as close as you can without triggering the wall to pop up in front of the chest. Set the Orb down, and sprint to the chest for an Evil Crystal. Retrieve the Orb and continue south.

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In the third (and final) sand-filled room, clear out the enemies as you head for the room in the southwest corner.

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Set the Orb just outside of the gate along the northern wall, and then pull the metal box onto the switch.

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Sprint around to retrieve the Orb, and head through the door.

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Set the Orb down in the first room, and continue west to find a chest containing a Monster Horn.

Head into the southeastern room with the Orb. Deal with the two Beamoses, and then set the Orb in the northwest corner. Loop around counterclockwise, and pull the switch on the wall near the Orb.

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Go retrieve it and continue into the southwestern room. Deal with the two Armos inside. If you’re careful, you can position the Orb so only one is active at a time, making this a much easier fight.

Once they’re defeated, head through the door to the south and place the Timeshift Orb in its cradle. Go through the door and back outside.

Cross the bridge to the south, and use your dowsing to find that the ship you’re after is to the east.

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Find the Sandship

Graphic: Jeffrey Parkin | Sources: Nintendo via Polygon

Back on the boat, sail toward the eastern half of the Sand Sea.

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Use a combination of dowsing and the boat’s cannon to chase it down and reveal it.